Sample Prompt 1

Directions: Think carefully about the issue presented in the following paragraph and respond to the assignment below. You have 25 minutes.

Sometimes in life, we lose. Abraham Lincoln lost numerous congressional elections before he went on to become President of the United States. Henry Ford went bankrupt and lost his ownership in The Detroit Automobile Company before ultimately succeeding with the Ford Motor Company. Michael Jordan’s basketball teams endured many heartbreaking playoff losses before becoming World Champions six times over.

Maybe losing in the secret ingredient to success?

Assignment: How do you feel about the idea that losing might be “the secret ingredient to success”? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.